Smart field goal detector

ABSTRACT

Systems for detecting a successful field goal are described herein. More specifically, the systems are directed at automated detection for a field goal attempt. The systems evaluate whether the football was kicked within the designated area (e.g., above the cross bar and between the two upright poles). The detection is performed through the use of cameras, lasers and detectors associated with the field goal post. In this way, the systems assist referees in determining the success of the field goal attempt.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation and claims the priority benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/798,081 filed Jul. 13, 2015, which claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional application 62/023,596 filed Jul. 11, 2014, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of Invention

The present invention generally relates to detecting objects. More specifically, the present invention relates to a smart field goal detector.

Description of the Related Art

American football (also referred to as football in the United States) is a sport that is played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field. The field has goal posts at each end. One of the ways the teams can score points in football is to kick (i.e., place kick or drop kick) the football through a field goal post also situated at the ends of the rectangular field during a play from scrimmage. The field goal post consists of two upright poles, which are eighteen feet and six inches apart, and a crossbar suspended ten feet above the ground. The upright poles extend from the ends of the crossbar.

To properly score a field goal, the team must kick the football above the cross bar and between the two upright poles. Presently, determination of whether a field goal is successful is performed visually from one or more officials (e.g., referees) situated at various points on the field. The referees determine whether the football was kicked above the cross bar and between the two upright poles.

There does not exist any technology that assists referees in making a determination whether a football kicked is a successful field goal or missed field goal. There may be situations where the football is kicked way above the vertical goal posts making it difficult for the various referees to evaluate whether the football was within the area defined by the two upright poles. Therefore, there is a need for a system that can be used to facilitate detection of the football during a field goal kick attempt.

SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMED INVENTION

The present invention is a system for detecting field goals. The system includes a camera and various sensors and detectors that are associated with a field goal post. A field goal controller receives location-based information regarding a location of the football during a field goal attempt. The field goal controller evaluates the received location-based information and makes a determination regarding the success of the field goal attempt. Based on the determination of the field goal attempt, the system can output a notification that indicates to the referees and other onlookers the success (or failure) of the field goal attempt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a smart field goal detector system.

FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary scenarios for detecting field goal attempts.

FIG. 3 illustrates operation of the lasers and detectors associated with the smart field goal detector system.

FIG. 4 illustrates the field goal controller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The systems described herein are directed towards detection of whether a field goal was successfully kicked during a football game. More specifically, the systems automatically detect whether the football was kicked within the designated area (e.g., above the cross bar and between the two upright poles). The detection is performed through the use of lasers and detectors associated with the field goal post.

Even though the present disclosure is directed at detection of a field goal in football, it should be noted that the systems described herein may also be applied in other sports where determination of whether an object is within a designated space is also performed. For example, the present invention can be applied to detect whether a ball is within an allowed area of play.

FIG. 1 illustrates a smart field goal detector system 100. The smart field goal detector system 100 includes a camera 105 with a laser filter 110 associated with the camera 105. The camera may be used to detect the lasers 120, 130 used with the smart field goal post 115. The filter 110 facilitates the camera 105 in detecting the lasers 120, 130. More specifically, the lasers may be invisible to the human eye and can only be detected by the camera 105. In some embodiments, the lasers are color lasers that the filter 110 may specifically be used to detect.

The field goal post 115 may be an already existing structure present in many of the football fields and used in football games. The field goal post 115 can be modified to include a plurality of lasers 120, 130 and detectors 125, 130. The lasers 120, 130 transmit straight lasers from one side to the other. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the side lasers 120 can be seen transmitting lasers from left to right (i.e. from one upright post to the other upright post). The vertical lasers 130 can be seen shooting lasers from bottom (i.e. crossbeam) and upwards towards the sky.

With respect to the side lasers 120, each laser 120 on one side post may be lined up with a corresponding detector 125 on the opposite side post. In situations where the football is kicked within the laser plane covered by the side lasers 120 and detectors 125, the laser connection with the corresponding detector is broken (e.g., see FIG. 3). The smart field goal detector system 100 can then determine the location of the football based on which lasers were broken and evaluate whether the field goal attempt was successful based on the location of the broken lasers.

With respect to the vertical lasers and detectors 130, the arrangement is different than the arrangement of the side lasers 120 and detectors 125. Since the vertical lasers 130 will be shooting up vertically into the sky, each laser cannot have a corresponding detector on the opposite side. Instead, the vertical laser and detectors 130 are arranged in an alternating fashion (see FIG. 3). Similar in the way that side detectors 125 detect the location of broken lasers, the detectors associated with the vertical lasers 130 can also detect which lasers are broken. Further details pertaining to this detection is provided in FIG. 3. In any case, by determining the location of the football based on where the vertical lasers are interrupted, an evaluation can be performed as to whether the field goal attempt was successful (i.e., if the football was above the crossbeam and within the area denoted by the two side posts).

It should be noted that in some embodiments, the side lasers 120 and detectors 125 may be optional. One or more referees viewing the field goal kick may easily determine whether the football was kicked above the crossbeam. Furthermore, when the football is kicked within an area that is detectable by the side lasers and detectors 120, 125 the one or more referees are capable of easily determining that the field goal kick was successful. The concern is when the football is not within the space defined by the upright poles and detectable by the side lasers 120 and detectors 125. In situations where the football is above the two upright posts, the vertical lasers 130 are used to determine whether the field goal attempt was successful. The side lasers 120 and detectors 125 may be incapable of detecting footballs that are located above the side goal posts.

To facilitate detection of the location of the football and the determination whether the football is within the two side posts of the field goal post 115, the smart field goal detector system 100 may also include pole laser detectors 135 on the top of each of the upright poles. The pole laser detectors 135 are used to detect whether the football is outside or within the area defined by the upright posts.

It should be noted that the pole laser detectors 135 are situated slightly outside the location of the upright poles. The location of the pole laser detectors 135 are provided so that the lasers associated with the pole laser detectors 135 line up with the edge of the upright poles. In situations where the football breaks the lasers from the pole laser detectors 135, this can be detected and evaluated as an unsuccessful field goal attempt. Footballs that are within the two upright poles would not be detected by the pole laser detectors 135 but be detected by one or more vertical lasers and detectors 130. In this situation, the field goal attempt can be determined as being successful. Footballs that are outside the two upright poles would similarly be not detectable by the pole laser detectors 135. The vertical lasers and detectors 130, however, would be unable to detect the location of the football as well. In this way, the smart field goal detector system 100 can determine that the field goal attempt was a failure (i.e., the location of the football may be too far left or right). Further details pertaining to the possible scenarios for detecting field goal attempts are provided below in FIG. 2.

The goal controller 140 associated with the field goal post 115 is used to determine the location of the football with respect to the various lasers and detectors. The goal controller 140 can then evaluate whether a field goal attempt was successful or a failure based on the location of the football. Further details regarding the goal controller 140 are provided below in FIG. 4.

FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary scenarios 200 for detecting field goal attempts. More specifically scenarios A, B and C illustrated in FIG. 2 provide the various different scenarios that the smart field goal detector system may be faced with in determining whether a field goal attempt was successful or not.

With each of the three scenarios, a laser plane 205 is illustrated. This plane 205 corresponds with an area defined by the pole lasers associated with the upright poles and the vertical lasers and detectors (e.g., FIG. 1). The laser plane is situated above an area where the crossbar (e.g., FIG. 1) of the field goal post 215. This area would be capable of detecting a football 210. This laser plane 205 can extend for a length vertically from the field goal post 215 and may depend on the strength of the laser used in detecting where the football 210 may possibly be found.

With each of the three scenarios, the goal controller can evaluate different logic situations to reach a conclusion whether a field goal attempt is successful or not. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the logic may include 1) whether the pole laser detects the football, 2) whether the side lasers/detectors detect the football, 3) whether the vertical lasers/detectors detect the football, and 4) whether the camera detector detects the football.

With respect to the pole lasers, these lasers are used to determine if the football 210 is within the upright poles. So long as the football 210 is detected by the vertical lasers and is not detected by the upright poles (i.e., within the laser plane 205), the field goal attempt is considered successful. As described above, the pole lasers are used to determine when a football 210 is outside the laser plane defined by the upright poles. Since the pole lasers are situated in an area outside of the laser plane 205, in situations where the football 210 is detected by the pole lasers, a determination can be made that the football 210 is in an area that is outside an imaginary area defined by the upright posts extended upwards.

With respect to the logic of the side lasers and the vertical lasers/detectors, the logic is used to determine if the football passed through the laser plane 205. Generally, the football must pass through the laser plane in some form for it to be considered a successful field goal. There may be some situations where the side lasers do not detect the football (e.g., when the football is kicked above the height of the upright poles) but so long as the football can be detected by the vertical lasers/detectors, the football 210 may be determined to be within the laser plane 205. In a situation where the vertical lasers/detectors do not detect the football 210 passing through the laser plane 205, such a field goal attempt would correspond with a failed field goal attempt. Such a situation may arise when either 1) the football falls short of the field goal post 215 or 2) passes through an area outside of the upright posts.

With respect to the logic with the camera detector, this may be used to ensure that the lasers and detectors associated with the field goal post 215 are operating properly. Generally, the camera detector should be able to capture where the football is located. In situations where the camera detector does not capture the football 210 but the goal controller determines that the lasers and sensors associated with the field goal post 215 detected an object, this may raise concerns as to what was detected and whether the information provided by the field goal controller can be used.

With respect to scenario A, the football 210 can be seen going through the laser plane 205 in an area between the two upright poles of the field goal post 215. With respect to scenario B, the football 210 can also be seen going through the laser plane 205 in an area between the two upright poles of the field goal post 215. The side lasers and detectors (as illustrated in FIG. 1), however, may be incapable of detecting the football 210. With respect to scenario C, the football 210 can be seen going through the laser plane 205. The football 210, however, is also detected by one of the pole lasers.

The corresponding logic for scenarios A, B and C are shown in FIG. 2. Generally, a field goal attempt is considered a successful field goal so long as the football 210 is detected by the vertical detectors and the camera detector without being detected by the pole laser. The combination of the logic ensures that the football 210 is within the laser plane 205 and within the two upright posts. The logic associated with the side lasers, although helpful in determining that the football 210 crossed the laser plane 205 within an area defined by the upright posts, is not required for a successful field goal attempt determination. In this way, the implementation of side lasers can be deemed optional.

With each of the three scenarios described above, corresponding logic and outcomes can be stored in the field goal controller used to identify the scenarios where a field goal attempt is deemed successful (e.g., scenarios A and B) from scenarios where the field goal attempt is deemed unsuccessful (e.g., scenario C).

FIG. 3 illustrates operation of the lasers 310 and detectors 320 associated with the smart field goal detector system 300. More specifically, the figure illustrates operation of the lasers 310 and detectors 320 that are arranged on the crossbar of the field goal post used to detect a football 305 that is passing through the laser plane (as illustrated in FIG. 2). In some embodiments, the lasers and detectors associated with the upright posts may similarly be arranged as on the crossbar (e.g., alternating laser and detectors) thereby operating in a similar manner illustrated in FIG. 3.

As illustrated in the figure, the lasers 310 are situated on the crossbeam of the field goal post. The lasers are providing laser beams 315 that are traveling vertically from the crossbeam of the field goal post towards the sky. One or more detectors 320 may be situated in between consecutive lasers 310. In some embodiments, the detectors 320 may be arranged in a circular formation around each of the lasers 310.

In an embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 3, when the football 305 passes through the laser plane (as illustrated in FIG. 2), one or more laser beams 315 from the lasers 310 make contact with the football 305. Upon making contact with the football 305, some of the laser beams 315 may disperse/become deflected. The dispersed laser beams 315 are detected by the camera (as illustrated in FIG. 1) or by one or more detectors 320. From the dispersed laser beams 315, the field goal controller can determine the position of where the football is within the laser plane.

FIG. 4 illustrates the field goal controller 400. The field goal controller 400 evaluates the information obtained from the camera (as illustrated in FIG. 1) and the various laser/detector pairs found on the upright post and the crossbeam of the field goal post. Based on the evaluated information, the field goal controller 400 determines whether a location of the football corresponds to a successful field goal attempt.

The field goal controller 400 can utilize up to four elements to determine whether a field goal attempt is successful. The first element corresponds with the camera 405. Input from the camera 405 is provided to the camera detector 410 to determine the location of the football. If, for example, the camera 405 detects dispersed lasers, the camera detector 410 outputs a “yes” signal indicating that, at least from the perspective of the camera, a successful field goal attempt has been detected.

With respect to the side detectors 415, there may be one side detector 415 associated with the field goal controller 400 associated with each laser/detector pair associated with on the upright posts of the field goal post. So long as at least one of the side detectors 415 is triggered (e.g., the detectors associated on the upright posts detects dispersed laser beams coming from the opposite upright post caused by the football), the side detector 415 outputs a “yes” signal indicating that, at least from the perspective of the side detector, a successful field goal attempt has been detected.

With respect to the vertical detectors 420, these operate similarly as the side detectors 415 described above. There may be one vertical detector 420 provided for each laser/detector combination associated with the crossbeam of the field goal post. Again, so long as one of the vertical detectors detects dispersed laser beams caused by the football, the vertical detector 420 outputs a “yes” indicative that at least from the perspective of the vertical detector 420 a successful field goal attempt has been detected.

Lastly, the pole detector 425 is also provided corresponding to both of the pole laser/detector pairs found on top of the upright poles. The logic for the pole detectors 425, however, is distinct from the other elements considered by the field goal controller 400. As noted above, detection of the football by the pole laser/detector is indicative that the football is not within the laser plane defined by the upright posts. Therefore, for a successful field goal attempt, the pole laser/detectors must not have detected the football during the field goal attempt. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the output for such a situation, when the football has not been detected, is “no.”

An inverter 430 is provided with the pole detector 425 as a way to simplify the logic output coming from the pole detector 425. The simplification is so that the summation 435 of the various elements (e.g., side detector 415, camera detector 410, pole detector 425 and vertical detector 420) can yield a determination that successful field goal attempt has been attempted if all four outputs are “yes.”

It should be noted that the field goal controller 400 is capable of determining other situations where all four elements are not providing a “yes” output but a field goal attempt is still successful. In this case, a different operation other than summation 435 may also be used to evaluate whether a field goal attempt was successful. In some embodiments, the inverter 430 may not be used and the field goal controller 400 may take note that a “no” output from the pole detector 425 is desired. Similarly, the output from the side detector 415 may be deemed unnecessary for a final determination of whether a field goal is successful so long as the vertical detectors 420 detected the location of the football. As noted above, there may be situations where the football is kicked within the area covered by the vertical detectors 420 but higher than the upright posts so that the side detectors 415 may not be capable of detecting the football. A database (not shown) may include all the various acceptable outputs from the detectors 410, 415, 420, 425 associated with the field goal controller 400 that can be associated with a successful field goal.

Once a successful field goal has been determined to have been detected by the field goal controller 400, a signal is provided to the trigger goal alarm 440. The trigger goal alarm may output a tone to indicate that a successful field goal has been detected so that one or more referees are informed. In some embodiments, the tone may be provided in such a way (e.g., via speakers) so that a stadium of onlookers can also be informed via the tone that a field goal attempt was successful. It should be noted that different tones may be provided based on whether a successful or failed field goal attempt was detected.

It should be noted that the field goal controller 400 may be capable of informing that the field goal attempt was successful using other means as well associated with the trigger goal alarm 440. For example, lights may be associated near or on the field goal post. These lights may be triggered to flash based on the output from the trigger goal alarm 440. For example lights of one color could be provided when a successful field goal attempt has been detected while a second color could be provided when a filed field goal attempt has been detected.

The foregoing detailed description of the technology herein has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the technology and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the technology in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the technology be defined by the claim.

Although the specification and figures may provide various embodiments directed to use of the technology herein within the realm of American football, it should be noted that the technology can be used in a variety of different events and venues including entertainment or cultural events presented at a theater, gymnasium, stadium or other facility involving a group of people. Such events may also include a variety of sporting events such as football (American and global), baseball, basketball, soccer, ice hockey, lacrosse, rugby, cricket, tennis, track and field, golf, cycling, motor sports such as automobile or motorcycle racing, horse racing, Olympic games, and the like; cultural events such as concerts, music festivals, plays, or the opera, and the like; religious events; and more permanent exhibitions such as museums or historic homes. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for detecting an object when it passes through a structure, the system comprising: a plurality of lasers; a plurality of detectors, wherein: the plurality of lasers and the plurality of detectors are associated with the structure through which an object may pass, and the plurality of lasers and detectors are situated opposite and in correspondence with one another; and a processor executing instructions stored in memory to: receive location-based data corresponding to the structure transmitted responsive to a connection between a laser and a detector from the plurality of lasers and detectors being broken identify that that the object passed through the structure via the received location-based data, and generate a notification that the identified object passed through the structure.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the structure are goal posts.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more objects include footballs, baseballs, soccer balls or hockey pucks.
 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a camera that is directed towards the structure that provides additional location-based data regarding the object passing through the structure.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the generated notification is based on the received location-based data of both the plurality of detectors and the camera.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lasers and the plurality of detectors are arranged on the structure in an alternating order.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of detectors are arranged in a circle around each of the plurality of lasers.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the generated notification includes an audio output.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the generated notification includes a light-based output.
 10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having embodied thereon a program containing instructions executable by a processor to perform a method for detecting an object when it passes through a structure, the method comprising: receiving location-based data corresponding to the structure transmitted responsive to a connection between a laser and a detector from a plurality of lasers and detectors being broken, wherein the plurality of lasers and the plurality of detectors are associated with the structure through which an object may pass, the plurality of lasers and the plurality of detectors are situated opposite and in correspondence with one another, and the location-based data corresponds to a connection between a laser and a detector from the plurality of lasers and detectors being broken when the object passing through the structure, identifying that the object passed through the structure via the received location-based data, and generating a notification regarding the identified object passing through the structure.
 11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the structure are goal posts.
 12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the one or more objects include footballs, baseballs, soccer balls or hockey pucks.
 13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising a camera that is directed towards the structure that provides additional location-based data regarding the object passing through the structure.
 14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the generated notification is based on the received location-based data of both the plurality of detectors and the camera.
 15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the plurality of lasers and the plurality of detectors are arranged on the structure in an alternating order.
 16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the plurality of detectors are arranged in a circle around each of the plurality of lasers.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the generated notification includes an audio output.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the generated notification includes a light-based output. 